Pub management told Watford 'is not Spain' after bid for later opening hours

A pub’s management were told Watford "is not Spain" after a bid to extend its hours provoked angry opposition from people living nearby.

More than 30 residents wrote letters of objection to Watford Borough Council after the Nascot Arms, in Stamford Road, applied to stay open later on weekdays and Sundays.

People in the area have complained the busy pub is already noisy and affects its neighbours’ sleep.

However the pub’s manager argued the application was a mark of its growing success and partly in response to punters who wanted to watch all of Match of the Day 2 on a Sunday.

The pub can currently serve drinks until 11.30pm Monday to Thrusday, midnight on Saturday and Sunday and to 10.30pm on Sunday. It wants to push back its Monday to Thursday and Sunday times to midnight.

During a meeting of the licensing sub committee yesterday (Thursday), Celia Rowbotham, member of Nascot Resident Association, said: "It’s this extension which is entirely inappropriate for this residential area.

"Almost all the houses are terraced and most are straight onto the street so there is very little insulation against the noise and I fear that the increase from the late hours will encourage the takeaway trade which I believe is quite substantial at the moment.

"I believe this will cause greater public nuisance as people will arrive to collect takeaway, the slamming of doors will cause noise."

Her concerns were seconded by Mark Watkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Nascot, who said the council has received more complaints about the pub as it had become more popular in recent years after it started to serve Thai food.

He said: "What is absolutely clear is that the management of the Nascot has got to engage with the local community to address their concerns.

"What extra business will follow from these longer hours and at what cost? This is not Spain. This is a quiet backstreet in Watford where all the neighbours ask is that they can enjoy undisturbed night’s sleep."

However Craig Fabian, the Nascot Arms manager, said the pub was responding to requests to customers for longer hours.

He said: "The main reason for extending the hours on Sunday is that I don’t have a lot of customers on a Sunday in the pub.

"Those who are in, they have been drinking in the pub for many, many years and they enjoy watching Match of the Day but they would miss the end of it.

"When they heard that I was coming to the Licensing Committee they asked if I would see if they could stay until the programme finished."

Mr Fabian also said the pub had become a respectable venues in recent year.

He added: "When I came to Watford, it was a shambles.There was a drug problem in the pub, especially on a Sunday afternoon when the football was on.

"I’m very proud of the fact, that in the ten years I have been here, the police have not had to called to people fighting in the pub. I want to keep that record. I want to encourage more families here.

"We have had some fantastic reviews on Trip Advisor."

The application to extend the opening hours on Monday to Thursday was granted, but the committee restricted the pub to an additional 30 minutes drinking time on a Sunday.

Comments

LuthersLoveChild
12:20pm Mon 23 Jun 14

Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).

The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.

Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).
The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.LuthersLoveChild

Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).

The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.

Score: 9

the g man
11:25am Mon 23 Jun 14

The pub can currently serve drinks until 11.30am Monday to Thrusday, midnight on Saturday and Sunday and to 10.30am on Sunday. It wants to push back its Monday to Thursday and Sunday times to midnight.

Think you might want to proof read what you post, they are strange opening hours you have reported

The pub can currently serve drinks until 11.30am Monday to Thrusday, midnight on Saturday and Sunday and to 10.30am on Sunday. It wants to push back its Monday to Thursday and Sunday times to midnight.
Think you might want to proof read what you post, they are strange opening hours you have reportedthe g man

The pub can currently serve drinks until 11.30am Monday to Thrusday, midnight on Saturday and Sunday and to 10.30am on Sunday. It wants to push back its Monday to Thursday and Sunday times to midnight.

Think you might want to proof read what you post, they are strange opening hours you have reported

Score: 11

Andrew1963
11:59am Mon 23 Jun 14

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?Andrew1963

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

Score: 2

Wacko Jacko
12:27pm Mon 23 Jun 14

Andrew1963 wrote…

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.

[quote][p][bold]Andrew1963[/bold] wrote:
The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?[/p][/quote]I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.Wacko Jacko

Andrew1963 wrote…

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.

Score: 3

pepsiman
1:43pm Mon 23 Jun 14

If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.

If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.pepsiman

If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.

Score: 10

Andrew1963
2:33pm Mon 23 Jun 14

Wacko Jacko wrote…

Andrew1963 wrote…

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.

I expect it was the yet to be understood 'Its not Spain' comment by the Committee member.

[quote][p][bold]Wacko Jacko[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Andrew1963[/bold] wrote:
The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?[/p][/quote]I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.[/p][/quote]I expect it was the yet to be understood 'Its not Spain' comment by the Committee member.Andrew1963

Wacko Jacko wrote…

Andrew1963 wrote…

The principle should be that the Licensing Ctte should have good cause to refuse, like on police advice. I have not been for a while, but with local pubs shutting there should be good reason to restrict the opening hours. The article implies the extended hours is unrelated to the food offer. surely the food offer could be restricted to say 23.00 while the bar is open until 23.59? The pub and houses were first built when no restricted licensing hours applied at all - I think licensing laws were introduced in 1916 by Lloyd Georges Liberal government as a temporary war time measure. As long as the pub is well run, i think the request seems quite modest. I am not sure what the comment regarding Spain was meant to convey?

I can't claim to remember back to 1916, but I do know that Watford has a licensing policy which covers opening hours etc. and as far as I'm aware the pub was only asking for the hours as laid down in the policy. Can't see why it even qualifies as a news story personally.

I expect it was the yet to be understood 'Its not Spain' comment by the Committee member.

Score: 1

CaptainPC
8:52am Tue 24 Jun 14

LuthersLoveChild wrote…

Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).

The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.

Erm....alright then. When I've been there the beer has been bad and the food is generic Thai for drunks. The customers are, generally, egotistical bores.

If the pub was run properly there would be no complaints. If you wasnt a decent pint and food you can go to the White Lion or the Estcourt Tavern nearby.

Only hobby drinkers talk about "Real Ale". Proper people would say they do a good pint of whatever.....

[quote][p][bold]LuthersLoveChild[/bold] wrote:
Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).
The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.[/p][/quote]Erm....alright then. When I've been there the beer has been bad and the food is generic Thai for drunks. The customers are, generally, egotistical bores.
If the pub was run properly there would be no complaints. If you wasnt a decent pint and food you can go to the White Lion or the Estcourt Tavern nearby.
The fact you mention "Real Ale" (which contains hops and therefore isn't really ale) makes me think you might be a beer bore.
Only hobby drinkers talk about "Real Ale". Proper people would say they do a good pint of whatever.....CaptainPC

LuthersLoveChild wrote…

Probably the only decent pub left around Watford town centre. Great beer, nice location, no fighting scumbags and great food. The only shame is when i lived there 5 years ago, i could always get a seat if i took the old man for a pint. Now it is packed to the rafters every night except Monday (as they don't serve food then).

The hours he wants to extend don't affect me as i don't plan on a Sunday pint at midnight, but as one of the few Watford success stories for Ale drinkers, i hope the pub stays where it is for the forseeable.

Erm....alright then. When I've been there the beer has been bad and the food is generic Thai for drunks. The customers are, generally, egotistical bores.

If the pub was run properly there would be no complaints. If you wasnt a decent pint and food you can go to the White Lion or the Estcourt Tavern nearby.

Only hobby drinkers talk about "Real Ale". Proper people would say they do a good pint of whatever.....

Score: -3

CaptainPC
8:55am Tue 24 Jun 14

pepsiman wrote…

If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.

It's fine if the pub is well run. I live very close to the Estcourt, which is, and although you can here people in the garden it is never un reasonable. Same goes for Druids.

Not sure I'd be so happy if I lived opposite a "rough" pub.

[quote][p][bold]pepsiman[/bold] wrote:
If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.[/p][/quote]It's fine if the pub is well run. I live very close to the Estcourt, which is, and although you can here people in the garden it is never un reasonable. Same goes for Druids.
Not sure I'd be so happy if I lived opposite a "rough" pub.CaptainPC

pepsiman wrote…

If you don't like the pub, that was there before you moved in just move house to one that does not have a pub in earshot there are over 25 million homes in the UK. A lot of people who live near pubs spend their lives moaning about them.... weird.

It's fine if the pub is well run. I live very close to the Estcourt, which is, and although you can here people in the garden it is never un reasonable. Same goes for Druids.

Not sure I'd be so happy if I lived opposite a "rough" pub.

Score: -1

crazyfrog
9:48am Tue 24 Jun 14

Why move close to a pub an not expect to hear a sound from it? It's a pub a place where people gather to socialise there will be some degree of sound,so if you expect the peace of the countryside don't move near one it's not rocket science, it's not Spain buts it's not the middle of the countryside either.

Why move close to a pub an not expect to hear a sound from it? It's a pub a place where people gather to socialise there will be some degree of sound,so if you expect the peace of the countryside don't move near one it's not rocket science, it's not Spain buts it's not the middle of the countryside either.crazyfrog

Why move close to a pub an not expect to hear a sound from it? It's a pub a place where people gather to socialise there will be some degree of sound,so if you expect the peace of the countryside don't move near one it's not rocket science, it's not Spain buts it's not the middle of the countryside either.

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